1
Tutorial work Tutorial work - All Weeks Trigger Questions
Acute Care Nursing 1 (Australian Catholic University)
Page 1 of 54
,2
WEEK 2
TRIGGER 1
What are the elements of a valid consent?
Consent to treatment can be either implied, verbal and/or written. However, must
meet the legal requirement to make it valid.
Informed consent is process of ensuring that subjects understand the research and
voluntarily decide to participate. As part of this process, participants learn about
study procedures, risks, benefits, and their rights.
For patients to receive health care, medication, and medical procedures, they must
first give consent. In order to give valid consent in the medical setting means that the
patient has been educated as to why they need medical intervention, the possible
outcomes or adverse reactions, and that every part of the procedure as well as
recovery and long term effects have been thoroughly explained in detail. With a
comprehensive understanding of this information, individuals aged 18 years and over
can make the decision to give consent and go ahead with the medical procedure, or
not give consent and forego the procedure, even if that means the chance of future
illness, injury, or even death. All competent adults can consent to and refuse medical
treatment. If consent is not established, there may be legal consequences for health
care professionals
Competence/ Capacity of the Patient: Needs to be able to understand the nature
and effect of the decision and demonstrate their understanding
Voluntary: Decision that is made freely by a patient in response to an understanding
of the treatment options, free from undue pressure, coercion or manipulation.
Consent covers procedure in question: Treatment provided must fall within the
scope of the specific consent that has been given by the patient. In certain
circumstances the consent may be extended to cover further unforeseen treatment
such as an emergency.
Informed in making that decision: When providing advice to a patient about
surgery it is necessary requirements that must be covered to ensure that the patient
is giving informed consent.
• The diagnosis
• Recommended treatment
• Material risks (significant risks)
• Alternative treatment options
• No treatment options
Page 2 of 54
,3
1. It must be voluntary, given without coercion, duress, misrepresentation,
manipulation or fraud. Rational persuasion through scientific argument, if one-sided
or incomplete, may also make consent invalid
2. It must be specific, and cover the procedure or treatment performed with adequate
information being provided, particularly in areas of material relevance to the patient.
3. Sufficient time and opportunity must be given for deliberation.
4. The patient must have the capacity to consent, that is, to be competent and
autonomous and to be able to understand the implications of having treatment
Can Matt consent for his surgery?
Individuals are usually considered to have full legal capacity to give consent at the
age of 18 and over. However, Matt can still give consent for his surgery due to a law
called “Gillick Competency”. This Victorian law states, “If a child is of an age and
intelligence where they can understand and comprehend the consequence of their
decision, then they are legally competent to consent.” Whilst Matt is only 15 years of
age, he may still be able to give consent for his surgery with proper and extensive
education of the procedure and its possible outcomes. If Matt shows understanding
of the procedure and all of its aspects, then he should be able to give valid consent.
TRIGGER 2
What are three different types of pain assessment that could be used and
which tool do you think would be the most appropriate for Matt?
1. FLACC -Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability.
The FLACC is a pain assessment tool that uses that patient’s behaviour to assess
pain experience. It can be used for children aged between 2 months and 18 years of
age, and up to 18 years of age in children with cognitive impairment and/or
developmental disability. It can be difficult to assess pain in children with cognitive
impairment/developmental disability and in patients who are non-verbal. Ask the
parent or carer to help you explain their child’s pain behaviour to facilitate a more
accurate pain assessment. Each category is scored on a 0-2 scale, which results in
a total pain score between 0 and 10. The person assessing the child should observe
them briefly and then score each category according to the description supplied.
Page 3 of 54
, 4
2. Wong-Baker faces pain scale
The Wong-Baker faces pain scale used self-report of pain to assess a patient’s
experience of pain. It can be used in children aged between 3 and 18 years of age,
depending upon their cognitive ability.
Face 0 is very happy because he doesn't hurt at all.
Face 2 hurts just a little bit.
Face 4 hurts a little more.
Face 6 hurts even more.
Face 8 hurts a whole lot.
Face 10 hurts as much as you can imagine, although you don't have to be crying to
feel this bad.
Ask the person to choose the face that best describes how he/she is feeling.
3. Visual Analogue scale
The Visual Analogue scale is used to self-report pain to assess a patient’s
experience of pain. It can used in children aged 8 years and older, depending upon
their cognitive ability.
Ask the child to rate their experience of pain using numbers from 0 (being no pain)
through to 10 (being the worst pain).
Page 4 of 54
Tutorial work Tutorial work - All Weeks Trigger Questions
Acute Care Nursing 1 (Australian Catholic University)
Page 1 of 54
,2
WEEK 2
TRIGGER 1
What are the elements of a valid consent?
Consent to treatment can be either implied, verbal and/or written. However, must
meet the legal requirement to make it valid.
Informed consent is process of ensuring that subjects understand the research and
voluntarily decide to participate. As part of this process, participants learn about
study procedures, risks, benefits, and their rights.
For patients to receive health care, medication, and medical procedures, they must
first give consent. In order to give valid consent in the medical setting means that the
patient has been educated as to why they need medical intervention, the possible
outcomes or adverse reactions, and that every part of the procedure as well as
recovery and long term effects have been thoroughly explained in detail. With a
comprehensive understanding of this information, individuals aged 18 years and over
can make the decision to give consent and go ahead with the medical procedure, or
not give consent and forego the procedure, even if that means the chance of future
illness, injury, or even death. All competent adults can consent to and refuse medical
treatment. If consent is not established, there may be legal consequences for health
care professionals
Competence/ Capacity of the Patient: Needs to be able to understand the nature
and effect of the decision and demonstrate their understanding
Voluntary: Decision that is made freely by a patient in response to an understanding
of the treatment options, free from undue pressure, coercion or manipulation.
Consent covers procedure in question: Treatment provided must fall within the
scope of the specific consent that has been given by the patient. In certain
circumstances the consent may be extended to cover further unforeseen treatment
such as an emergency.
Informed in making that decision: When providing advice to a patient about
surgery it is necessary requirements that must be covered to ensure that the patient
is giving informed consent.
• The diagnosis
• Recommended treatment
• Material risks (significant risks)
• Alternative treatment options
• No treatment options
Page 2 of 54
,3
1. It must be voluntary, given without coercion, duress, misrepresentation,
manipulation or fraud. Rational persuasion through scientific argument, if one-sided
or incomplete, may also make consent invalid
2. It must be specific, and cover the procedure or treatment performed with adequate
information being provided, particularly in areas of material relevance to the patient.
3. Sufficient time and opportunity must be given for deliberation.
4. The patient must have the capacity to consent, that is, to be competent and
autonomous and to be able to understand the implications of having treatment
Can Matt consent for his surgery?
Individuals are usually considered to have full legal capacity to give consent at the
age of 18 and over. However, Matt can still give consent for his surgery due to a law
called “Gillick Competency”. This Victorian law states, “If a child is of an age and
intelligence where they can understand and comprehend the consequence of their
decision, then they are legally competent to consent.” Whilst Matt is only 15 years of
age, he may still be able to give consent for his surgery with proper and extensive
education of the procedure and its possible outcomes. If Matt shows understanding
of the procedure and all of its aspects, then he should be able to give valid consent.
TRIGGER 2
What are three different types of pain assessment that could be used and
which tool do you think would be the most appropriate for Matt?
1. FLACC -Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability.
The FLACC is a pain assessment tool that uses that patient’s behaviour to assess
pain experience. It can be used for children aged between 2 months and 18 years of
age, and up to 18 years of age in children with cognitive impairment and/or
developmental disability. It can be difficult to assess pain in children with cognitive
impairment/developmental disability and in patients who are non-verbal. Ask the
parent or carer to help you explain their child’s pain behaviour to facilitate a more
accurate pain assessment. Each category is scored on a 0-2 scale, which results in
a total pain score between 0 and 10. The person assessing the child should observe
them briefly and then score each category according to the description supplied.
Page 3 of 54
, 4
2. Wong-Baker faces pain scale
The Wong-Baker faces pain scale used self-report of pain to assess a patient’s
experience of pain. It can be used in children aged between 3 and 18 years of age,
depending upon their cognitive ability.
Face 0 is very happy because he doesn't hurt at all.
Face 2 hurts just a little bit.
Face 4 hurts a little more.
Face 6 hurts even more.
Face 8 hurts a whole lot.
Face 10 hurts as much as you can imagine, although you don't have to be crying to
feel this bad.
Ask the person to choose the face that best describes how he/she is feeling.
3. Visual Analogue scale
The Visual Analogue scale is used to self-report pain to assess a patient’s
experience of pain. It can used in children aged 8 years and older, depending upon
their cognitive ability.
Ask the child to rate their experience of pain using numbers from 0 (being no pain)
through to 10 (being the worst pain).
Page 4 of 54
